Honda has announced the launch of its car-leasing service, in partnership with Orix. The announcement makes the carmaker the latest company after FCA and Skoda to partner with the car rental and leasing company.

The carmaker says that it will offer leasing options to corporate and individual customers on the City, the Civic and the CR-V, with the target customers including self-employed professionals, businessmen and salaried individuals. Besides the above mentioned cars, Honda's India range currently consists of the Brio, Jazz, Amaze, BR-V, WR-V and the Accord Hybrid.

The carmaker says that the leasing option will offer many benefits such as comprehensive insurance plans, maintenance packages, tax management and curated rental plans, as per the requirement of prospective customers.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Goel, senior vice president and director, sales and marketing, Honda Cars India Ltd, said, “Car leasing offers convenience, access to latest vehicles, and enables customers to enjoy the perks of using a car without having to purchase it. Car leasing is gaining popularity in India and we are delighted to associate with Orix to offer tailor-made solutions for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of a modern ownership experience. In addition to corporate customers, the programme has been specially rolled out for individual customers as well.”

]]>Jaiveer Mehra Jaiveer Mehra Honda partners with Orix to offer car-leasing services2461402461401Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:15:00 +1000414143Jaiveer Mehra Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The leasing service - for corporate and individual buyers - will be available on the Honda City, Civic and the CR-V.The leasing service - for corporate and individual buyers - will be available on the Honda City, Civic and the CR-V.Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:15:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/car-news/honda-partners-with-orix-to-offer-car-leasing-services-414143#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Mid-size+Saloons+feed414143Skoda boss surprised at Indian market downturn

Car sales in India have slumped to multi-year lows and the persisting slowdown has raised eyebrows across the globe. “This was indeed a surprise for us. A year ago, I didn’t expect that this could really happen,” Bernhard Maier, CEO, Skoda Auto, told Autocar India at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. “In the past, while we did see the Indian market always going up and down a little bit, this year has been a really hard one.”

The country’s passenger vehicle sales plunged to an all-time low of 196,524 units in August, recording a decline of 31.57 percent year-on-year. And without significant revival efforts, the situation could even worsen.

However, the Czech carmaker plans to stay the course for its investments and says the 'India 2.0' project is well on track. "We have not adjusted any of our plans and we strongly believe that India is going to be a future market. We'll give you a glimpse of our first cars under 'India 2.0' at the Delhi motor show next year," Maier said.

He said Skoda understands that a country's economy always performs in a cyclical manner and it's important to be prepared on all fronts to cope with any downturn. "We knew that India is not an easy market. It’s one of the most, if not the most, competitive markets in the world. This is the challenge we like to take," he said.

In fact, Maier even revealed that Skoda is pushing for a higher localisation than earlier targeted. "We made even more progress than we had planned previously. We are now at a level of 92-95 percent. We are happy to have found really good suppliers who are keen to stand by our side," he said.

Last year, the carmaker said it was targeting a localisation level of over 90 percent to boost the cost-effectiveness of its vehicles. VW Group cars have traditionally been built to a higher cost structure in India and this has meant higher prices vis-à-vis the competition. In an effort to make further inroads into the Indian market, the VW Group had tasked Skoda with leading the development of future Group cars for India. At the centre of the VW Group's 'India 2.0’ project is the India-specific MQB A0-IN platform, which will spawn models for VW and Skoda.

Skoda is also banking on the synergies from within group companies to make India 2.0 a success. The Volkswagen Group in India is soon expected to receive approval for the proposed merger of its three business entities in the passenger vehicle business – Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd, Volkswagen Group India Sales Pvt Ltd and Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd. "With that, we are bundling all the activities happening behind the scenes, such as digital services or accounting, while customer line will be specified and divided by each brand," Maier said. The name of the newly formed organisation is Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd.

The Volkswagen Group’s India arm is working to bring four new models to our market under the company’s India 2.0 strategy. Two of those are brand-new midsize SUVs – the India-spec Volkswagen T-Cross and a brand-new Skoda midsize SUV – the third is VW's Vento replacement, while Skoda's new sedan – primed as a replacement for the ageing Rapid – will be the fourth model.

Speaking to Autocar India on the sidelines of the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, Bernhard Maier, CEO, Skoda Auto, said a notchback is being readied for the Indian market. It’s set to follow the launch of the midsize SUV (which will take place in 2020), and initial feedback from customer clinics has been positive.

“To cover only the SUV market would be too strong a shortcut. We’ll come up in the (midsize) SUV segment, but we’ll also come up with a notchback. And both cars – from our point of view, when we take into account the feedback we got from customer clinics – are really promising”, said Maier.

To be able to achieve a competitive price tag for its new models, Skoda is focusing on ramping up localisation, and the Rapid’s successor will use a high level of local content. “In terms of localisation, we have made even more progress than we had in our plans previously. We are now at a level of around 92-95 percent”, said Maier.

While there is a possibility of Skoda exporting the new sedan to international markets at a later stage, for now, the focus remains firmly on India and the needs of Indian buyers, according to the Skoda CEO.

“First of all, we have to come up with a product which is to the point for our Indian customers. If we see that this kind of product also has its fans in other markets, we’re going to export it. But the most important focus is on our Indian customers, so we’re really focused on the cars to come”, added Maier.

Skoda’s new sedan will be based on the tailored-for-India MQB A0 IN platform. It will get a unique front end and could share some body panels with its Volkswagen sibling. The upcoming Skoda sedan will be powered by a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine (from the EA211 family), and there will be no diesel engine option, so there will be fewer versions to choose from. What’s also worth noting is that the Skoda and VW sedans will not be mere badge-engineering jobs and will be far more differentiated than the current Rapid and Vento.

The fifth-gen City will replace the outgoing car, which has been on sale in our market since 2014, and is expected to make its India debut sometime next year. The test mule of the new Honda City spied in India is heavily covered, just like the one seen in Thailand. However, key details, like the vehicle’s overall silhouette and other design bits, are quite similar to the mule spotted earlier.

The new Honda City is likely to be a tad longer and wider than the fourth-gen car and its styling is expected to be somewhat in line with other Honda models, namely the flagship Accord sedan, especially when viewed from the front. The fifth-gen City will get large wraparound headlamps replete with LED elements, a wide grille with a thick chrome strip, and a large Honda badge at the centre. At the back, the new City will get wraparound tail-lamps with LED bits, with a design that tapers down at each corner.

The next-gen City will also have an updated engine line-up under its hood. Honda will continue to offer the diesel engine with this next-gen model, though upgraded to meet BS6 norms. Additionally, the new Honda City is also likely to come with the diesel-CVT configuration, just like in the Amaze.

However, the big news is that the Honda City petrol will come with a mild-hybrid powertrain for the first time. The Japanese carmaker has revealed that it is developing a new, more compact hybrid system for models like the next-gen Jazz and the City.

For those who don’t know, Honda already has a standard-size version of the system, called Honda Sport Hybrid i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive), which is used in models like the Civic Hybrid and the CR-V Hybrid, which are sold abroad, and also in the Accord Hybrid that’s sold in India.

It was earlier this year that the Volkswagen Group India announced its intentions to merger its passenger car business – Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd, Volkswagen Group India Sales Pvt Ltd and Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd – in the country. The Group is eyeing the completion of the merger process by September 21, 2019, subject to all requisite approvals, with the new organisation proposed to be named Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWIPL).

As per a source, the National Company Law Tribunal has approved the merger, though a written approval is still awaited.

With the planned merger, the Volkswagen Group aims "to combine the technical and managerial expertise of the three companies to unlock the Volkswagen Group's full potential in India".

Under the 'India 2.0' strategy, the Volkswagen Group had decided to make its Czech Republic-based Skoda business unit head the fresh attempt to gain a fair share in the highly competitive Indian passenger vehicle market. While Volkswagen cars couldn't find strong favour among Indian customers, the Skoda brand has a good chance as at least some of its models fall in 'sweet spots' of the Indian car market, according to an industry veteran.

Under the 1 billion euro (approximately Rs 8,000 crore) plan announced on July 2, 2018, the original strategy is to develop eight new offerings – four each for domestic and export markets. The four models include an SUV and a sedan under the Volkswagen brand and the same for Skoda. Sources say that these models will be based on Volkswagen's MQB platform and there will be badge engineering involved.

The company may launch one model every six months, and the first of these models could be launched in March 2021. Volkswagen's India 2.0 plan also involves tapping the India base as a technical and an export hub. A set of four left-hand-drive models – two each for Skoda and Volkswagen – may be produced by 2022.

Toyota has recently updated the Yaris range with three new variants – the J (Optional), the G (Optional) and the V (Optional). All these new variants are available with both manual and automatic gearbox options. It is interesting how Toyota has positioned the new variants, as the J (Optional) and G (Optional) are positioned below the regular J and G variants, while the V (Optional) is actually positioned higher than the standard V trim in the Yaris’ range.

In terms of engines, Toyota continues to offer the Yaris with a sole 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit that produces 107hp and 140Nm of torque. The engine can be had either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-step CVT automatic gearbox.

With the addition of the new variants, the Yaris range now starts at Rs 8.65 lakh for the base J (Optional) trim, which is around Rs 64,000 cheaper than the previous base variant. The standard G and V variants have also dropped in price by around Rs 12,000 and Rs 7,000, respectively, while the price for the range-topping VX CVT remains unchanged.

These new variants have led to Toyota updating the equipment offered on all variants across the range. We have compiled the new prices and a list of equipment available across all variants of the Yaris, below.

In our market, the Toyota Yaris competes with the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. With the addition of these updates, the Yaris should be able to better compete in its segment.

Volkswagen’s midsize sedan has just been given a minor refresh to keep it relevant until the next-gen Vento arrives in 2021. The new model is mechanically unchanged it continues with the same BS4-compliant, 105hp, 1.6-litre petrol-manual; 105hp 1.2-litre turbo-petrol-dual-clutch auto; and 110hp, 1.5-litre diesel that gets manual and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic options. Besides metallic and non-metallic colour options for the base variant, the Vento facelift can now be had in a total of 12 variants. Compared to the outgoing model, prices have gone up by
Rs 12,000 for the base variants, while the top-spec trims cost about Rs 16,000-19,000 more. Volkswagen has also given the new Vento a few more exterior features and interior kit, somewhat justifying the increase in price. Here are the features and engine options available on each variant of the Volkswagen Vento facelift:

6.5-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility

Steering-mounted audio controls

Volkswagen Connect connectivity suite

Automatic wipers

Automatic climate control with rear AC vents

Remote window operation

Power folding and adjustable outside mirrors

Vento Highline Plus [Rs 13.18-14.50]

1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic

1.5-litre diesel engine with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic

Four airbags

Rear parking camera

LED headlights with auto-levelling function and DRLs

Black roof (option)

16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55 R16 tyres

Vento GT Line [Rs 13.18-14.50 lakh]

Black roof

'GT Line' stickers and badge

Black cover for outside mirrors

Black rear spoiler

Unlike its hatchback sibling, the VW Polo, the Vento GT Line variant only gets minor cosmetic differences and is otherwise identical to the Highline Plus. With this update to the Polo (Rs 5.83-9.89 lakh) and Vento ranges, VW hopes that the models will be better sellers, especially with the festive season just around the corner. The Vento rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Toyota Yaris and Skoda Rapid in the Indian market.

Hyundai is readying the heavily updated Verna sedan for its world premier at the upcoming Chengdu Motor show in China.

The refreshed Verna’s styling brings the car more in line with the newer Hyundai models sold abroad, like the latest-gen Sonata, the refreshed Elantra (set to launch in India this month) and the recently updated Ioniq.

The updates seen on the Verna facelift are in line with those mentioned in our report dating back to August 2018. The new Verna’s front styling now gets a more aggressive and edgy look as compared to its predecessor. Up front, the car now sees a wider and sleeker iteration of the trademark cascading grille that gets chrome trim on higher variants, along with much larger headlamps that neatly connect with the grille. The headlamps themselves have quite a bit of detail now, with chrome outlines seperating three different sections – the projector headlamp, the parking lamp and the turn indicator. The new Verna is expected to come with all-LED headlamps, at least for the top variants. The bumper gets an all-new design too, with a mix of black plastic and satin grey bits.

Moving on to the sides, the Verna facelift gets new alloy wheel designs, with the higher variants getting diamond-cut dual-tone alloys.

Just like the front, major changes are seen on the new Verna’s rear. The boot and tail-lamp cluster design is all new, and the car now gets a connected tail-lamp design with thin LED strip that runs across the model's width. The license plate is now placed a bit lower but is still on the boot, while the rear bumper also gets rectangular, vertically placed reflectors and a dual-tone faux-diffuser, replete with a satin aluminium trim. The refreshed car is actually longer than its predecessor by around 25mm, thanks to the new front and rear styling tweaks.

What the new Verna also gets is a larger touchscreen setup and more connected car features, just like the ones seen on other global models and the Venue SUV in India.

While the model shown here will come with just a single 1.4-litre petrol engine in China, the refreshed Hyundai Verna for India will come with a new set of 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options. These new units will be BS6-compliant and will also be seen on duty in other Hyundai models, like the next-gen Creta and the refreshed Elantra. The same set of engines also powers the recently launched Kia Seltos SUV.

The new 1.5-litre diesel engine on the refreshed Verna will see its output go down from 128hp to 115hp, while the torque figure too will downgrade from 260Nm to 250Nm; additionally, the new Verna’s 1.5-litre petrol engine will also be packaged to take a 48V hybrid system. However, it remains to be seen whether this system is an option in the facelift.

The refreshed Hyundai Verna will see competition from the likes of the all-new Honda City that is also due next year, along with key rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Skoda Rapid and the recently-updated Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Vento. Expect the updated Hyundai Verna to reach Indian showrooms sometime in second-half of 2020.

Toyota has launched the updated Yaris with prices starting at Rs 8.65 lakh for the base J (Optional) MT trim and going up to Rs 14.07 lakh for the top-end VX CVT variant. The update sees the introduction of three new variants – J (Optional), G (Optional) and V (Optional) – along with the introduction of new dual-tone exterior paint shades.

The V (Optional) is the sole variant available with the dual-tone paint shades and is priced at Rs 11.97 lakh for the manual and Rs 13.17 lakh for the CVT model. The trim is placed between the existing V and VX trims.

Coming to the J (Optional) and G (Optional) variants, these variants are positioned below the existing J and G trim levels respectively. The only difference in equipment for these trims is the airbags. While the standard J and G trims get seven airbags as standard, the J (Optional) and G (Optional) trims get three airbags as standard.

In addition to the dual-tone colour scheme, the new V (Optional) trim also gets new diamond-cut alloy wheels, leatherette seats, and a black finish for the grille and wing mirrors. These are in addition to the features available on the V trim.

Other changes to the equipment list include alloy wheels being made standard across all variants. The G trim now misses out on an audio system while the V trim is now available with a 7.0-inch touchscreen previously limited to the top VX trim – albeit with the lack of Wi-Fi, Mirror Link, HDMI input and an SD card slot. The navigation function and gesture control remain exclusive to the VX trim level as well. All variants now also come with driver and co-driver seat-belt reminder, rear parking sensors and a speed alert system as standard.

As before, the Yaris continues to be offered with a single, 107hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine option with the option of either a 6-speed manual or CVT gearbox available across all variants.

The Yaris has not been one of the better-selling vehicles in its segment in the Indian market. With this update, Toyota will aim to push sales of its Honda City rival, especially during this festive season.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 has come into force today, and with its roll-out come higher penalties for traffic offenses. The higher fines are a much-needed measure to curb traffic offenses in India, which has some the world’s unsafest roads when it comes to driving. The government expects the higher fines to be a stronger deterrent for road users breaking the rules.

A list of some of the new fines are below:

Section under 1988 Act

Description

Old penalty/provision

New penalty/provision

181

Driving without license

Rs 500

Rs 5,000

182

Driving despite disqualification

Rs 500

Rs 10,000

183

Over speeding

Rs 400

Rs 1,000-2,000 (light motor vehicle)

Rs 2,000-4,000 (medium passenger vehicle)

184

Dangerous driving

Rs 1,000

Imprisonment of 6 months-1 year and/or fine of Rs 1,000-5,000 for first offence. Imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine up to Rs 10,000 for second offence.

185

Drunk driving

Rs 2,000

Imprisonment up to 6 months and/or fine up to Rs 10,000 for first offence. Imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine of Rs 15,000 for second offence.

189

Racing

Rs 500

Imprisonment of up to 1 month and/or fine up to Rs 500 for first offence. Imprisonment up to 1month and/or fine up to Rs 10,000 for second offence.

194A

Overloading

Rs 1,000 per extra passenger

194B

No seatbelt

Rs 100

Rs 1,000

194C

Overloading two-wheeler

Rs 100

Rs 2,000; license disqualification for 3 months

194D

No helmet

Rs 100

Rs 1000; license disqualification for 3 months

194E

Not providing way to emergency vehicle

Rs 10,000

196

Driving without insurance

Rs 1,000

Rs 1,000-2,000 and/or punishment up to 3 months for first offence. Rs 4000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for second offence

198

Failure to comply with standards for road design, construction and maintenance

Up to Rs 1 lakh

199

Offences by juveniles

Guardian/vehicle owner deemed guilty - Rs 25,000 with 3 years imprisonment. Vehicle registration cancelled for 12 months. Juvenile ineligible to obtain license until the age of 25 years.

210B

Offenses committed by enforcing agencies

Double of applicable penalty

In addition to the fines and penalties, the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019 also covers other areas of road transport.

Green and safe

Making our roads safer and our vehicles less hazardous to the environment has been a recurring theme. Due to this, one of the major changes to the original Act is to allow the Central Government to issue directions to manufacturers to retrofit safety and emissions control equipment on motor vehicles, in accordance with such standards and specifications as directed by it. In addition, State and Regional Transport Authorities have been further empowered to issue directives and institute schemes to decrease overcrowding of roads with reference to parking spaces and halting stations and better road safety.

Focus on convenience

In order to make processes – such as getting a driver’s license, registration of vehicles and changes to be made to various documents – easier, various clauses and sections of the 1988 Act have been amended. One of the foremost changes is that applications for documentation – from a learner’s license and change of address on a license to vehicle registration and permits – can be made at any licensing authority in the State and can be done online. The amendment also adds further stipulations for the renewal of driver’s licenses – a license holder can apply for renewal one year before its expiry and up to one year after. After this duration, the applicant will have to pass a driving test again.